Corset



CORSET T||| IITIIIIIIIII lllllT K. E. CUNNINGHAM Filed Oct. 22. 1924 Nav. 10,1925` mvENToR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED .STATES PATENT Kari-:Enma n. CUNNINGHAM, or onloaeo, meiner-s, assrenon To H. W. eos- SABD C .OF GlGAGD; XLLINOI. A Qoirtoeili .OF ILLINQIS oonsn'r.

Application filed October 22, 1924. Serial No. 745,045.

To all whom/.t may concern: l

Be it known that I, KATHERINE E. CUN- Ninfa-IAM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is 1. specilisation.

This invention relates to corsets and has for its object to provide a llaced corset Which can be quickly adjusted and Which is not liable to chafe the under or outer garments. Attempts have been made to obtain quick adjustment in a laced corset by arranging the lacing eyelets with their axes parallel to the longitudinal edges instead of With their axes atvright angles to the plane of the material and back from the edge. More friction is present in the lacingsvvhen the eye- Y lets arearranged in the last mentioned man ner than When positioned with the axes of the eyelet openings parallel with the edges. Previous efforts to take advantage of this manner of marginal lacing and attain greater speed and facility in manipulation have been unsuccessful because open to a number of disadvantages, so objectionable in fact that this type of lacing has not attained any prominence in the commercial eld. One difhculty has been that the eyelet projecting past and into the opening between the longitudinal edges of the corset material is uncomfortable, especially to Man obese wearer. Another objection has been that either the lacing cord has soon Worn out on sharp edges of the eyelet, or else when this objection is removed by rounding the top and bottom of the eyelets, sharp edges are formed on the outer surface of the eyelet close to the top yand bottom Which chafe and cut into the inner or outer gare ments thus making the corset undesirable. Endeavors to .overcome this last objection by the use of an over .and underlyingap about the eyelets resulted in la thick and heavy edge portion, especially if, kas has been suggested, overlapping Qflap 'isprovided with a stay to keep from injuring adjacent serments ,It 'has also :been proposed 't0 bend the eyelets so that they extend away from the wearers body, but this has been found detrimental to the fit and appearance of Ahthe outer garments and to result in cutting .into the `Outer serments by reason of the aforementioned sharp edges on the outer surface of the eyelet. lAnother objectionto the arrangement of the eyelets Whereby'they are bent away from the Wearers body is that the eyelets get bent back out of place under tight lacing. Jlifurther objection to marginally arranged eyelets has been the failure to have them rigidly secured, as heretofore they have been attached only by a single rivet with the result that theeyeletgets bent out of its true positionor turned about its fastening as a pivot With the result that friction and cutting of the lacings are increased. A further `disadvantage has resided in the unnecessarily large shape and diameter tothe eyelet opening when regard is had to the position ot the lacing cord When under pressure and Within the opening.

According to this invention these objections are overcome and a corset provided which is quickly and easily adjusted Without any of the previously inherent disadvantages of such `a corset. By overcoming all the aforementioned difficulties the corset of this invention not only is comfortable without vchafing the underor outer garments, but its adjustment is so speedy that practically the entire lacings can be tightened in one movement-Without pulling up and tightening the lacing at each separate eyelet. Specifically. pear shaped double Wire eyelet is provided, so arranged as to have a smooth exterior of about the diameter of the thickness of the corset m aterial at the edge and securely fastened to a stay or other framework by at least two rivets so that it does not move out of position.

Besides these foregoing advantages, a reduction in Weight is possible since one or tvvo stays maybe dispensed with. In the type of lacing Where the `eyelet has its axis at-'rightangles to the plane ofthe material, a stay has generally been used between 4the .eyelet and the longitudinal edge to help prevent 4the eyelets falling out. By the use `of this invention these edge stays are dis pensed vvithfand lightness in Weight attained Without forsaking anyfof the necessary supporting stays. ``When the'lacing is at the front aconnecting strip is generally used along which are located one set of eye `lets and one set of fastening members. Under vthis invention it'has been Lpossible to reduce the Width ot` this connecting strip abut an inch, making :it less bulky by having the eyelets and fastening members both secured to the same stay.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of an ordinary type of corset embodying this invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail of a portion of the lacing and fastening means,

Fig. 3 is a plan of the eyelet showing its details of construction,

Fig. l is a section on the line @-451 of Fig. y3, and i Fig. 5 shows the back of the device illustrated in Fig. 3. y Y

In the type of front lace corset illustrated, it is customary to have a connecting strip 1() containing the lacing eyelets and also the studs 11 or other complementary fastening means for engaging the clasps 12. Instead of having the eyelets arranged in the customary manner with their axes at right angles to the plane of the corset material, in this invention they are arranged along the marginal edge, as indicated, projecting toward the opposite set of eyelets whereby the lacing strings 13 and 11i may be drawn tight in one movement without pulling up and tightening the lacings at each eyelet. When a different degree of tightness is required in one portion of the lacing from another,

the lacingstrings 13 and 14 may be tied together or adjustably anchored to the corset material intermediate the ends of the longitudinal edges, as shown at 15. By this means the portion above 15 can be laced and then the lower portion given a greater or less tightness as desired.

In the specific form illustrated, the eyelets are secured tothe marginal edges of stays 16 and 17. By placing the studs 11 on the stav 1G it has been possible to shorten the width of the connecting strip 10 about an inch. The clasps 12 are also secured to a stay 18, as is customary. On the opposite side of the lacing a second stay 19 is usually used to produce a symmetry and balance in feel and appearance. In the type of corset illustrated, the stays 16 to 19, inclusive, do not extend all the way to the bottom, and below the stays the eyelets are secured to a reinforcing member such as the strip of tape 20, and the associated fastening means 21 for the connecting strips are also secured to reinfprcing strips of tape below the ends of the s avs.

Referring to Figures 3 and Ll, the closed eyelets comprise a double looped wire whose two loops 22 and 23 form the eyelet and give it a smooth surface both inside and out, which is not liable to cut into the lacings, nor chafethe inner or outer garments as have some of the sheet metal eyelets of the prior art. A round eyelet opening requires an unnecessary width or diameter inasmuch as the lacing cord is flattened under pressure and occupies only the outer portion of the opening, especially after the cord is flattened in cross section by reason of pressure. Under this invention it has been found that an opening of general pear shaped contour similar to the showing in Fig. 4 provides minimum diameter of opening or thickness of the eyelet and is more economical of space and may be reduced in diameter for a given size of lacing cord over the corresponding size of a rounded eyelet opening. The ends of the loop are bent to form spaced securing means 24 and 25 in the plane of the stay, through which are passed rivets 26 for holding the loop in position. As shown in Fig. 5, these rivets may be joined on the under side of the stay so that the two constitute a unitary stamping of minimum thickness, the connecting material between the rivets, as well as their heads, being relatively thin.

The securing means for the eyelets are arranged on the outer or side of the stay away from the wearers body, so that the,loop does not extend inwardly of the innerA surface of the corset or press into the wearers body.

Among the advantages of this invention may be enumerated the speed and facility of ,lacing whereby substantially the entire lacingmay be tightened by one movement without any of the disadvantages which were inherent in previous attempts to accomplish this result. The two lacing strings 13 and 14, as illustrated, enable the wearer to tie a bow or other simple knot and are more easily tied than if only one string were used. The eyelet being closed cannot open under strain or allow the lacing cord to come out. The outer surface of the double looped eyelet illustrated is relatively smooth and free from sharp edges which could cut into the under` or outer garments. As shown in Fig. 4 the plane of lacing tension or the plane of the cords is slightly displaced outwardly from the plane of the eyelet base. The material covering the stays and eyelet securing means is of such thickness that the diameter of the eyelet is substantially the same as the thickness of the corset material along its longitudinal edges. If desired a single flap may be used bridging the space between the lacings as is common. The center of the eyelet passes through the rivet so that there is substantially no tendency for the eyelet to bend out of position, especially as it is made more rigid than the sharp edged sheet metal eyelets heretofore tried without` success. Another advantage is thatv the eyelet is given a firm and secure `attachment to the stay or tape by means of the spaced securing means, or two rivets, which prevent the eyelet being rotatedout of position by turning around one of the rivets as has been found to occur when only a single rivet is used. Another advanta e of this invention is that by reason of t e double loop. the ends of the eyelet do not permit any surface between which the lacings may jam or worli out. The pear shaped opening enables the eyelet to be reduced to a ininimum for a given size of lacing cord. A further advantage resides in the top and bottom of the eyelet being rounded so that the lacings are not cut as they slip through the eyelets.

lhile this invention is not limited to front lace corsets, or even to lacings on corsets alone, but might be applied to combination garments and to lacings on brassieres if desired, yet when applied to a front laced corset having a connecting strip, as illustrated, it has been possible to reduce the width and therefore the bulk and weight of the garment by narrowing the connecting strip about an inch. rihis has been made possible by locating the studs ll on the same stay as the eyelets, with the result that no additional stays are necessary for either the stud or the eyelets. Vherever this invention is used it has been found possible to reduce the total weight of the corset by at least the amount of two stays, since a stay is no longer required between the eyelets and the longitudinal edge to prevent the eyelets pulling out. In an active art, even so small a reduction in weight as that of two stays is of substantial importance where every effort is made to give the necessary support to the wearer with the minimum weight to the garment. As shown in the lower portion of the corset illustrated, this invention may be applied to the type of garment having no stays but having tape or other reinforcing members which garment is still capable of being laced with increased facility. The location of the eylets substantially opposite one another contributes to uniformity in distribution of stresses. The term corset as used in the specification and claims includes similar structures, such, for example, as brassieres and the like.

This application is a continuation in part of my former application SN. 683,592 filed Dec. 3l, 1923 for corsets.

I claim:

l. A corset comprising a body having re inforcing members along separated adjustable laced edges, spaced closed lacing eyelets provided with a base rigidly secured to each of said members projecting toward the other member and with the axes of the eyelets substantially parallel to the reinforcing members, each eyelet comprising` a plurality of adjacent coaxial loops of wire rounded in cross section having the ends thereof spaced and shaped for attachment to one of said reinforcing members, the rear of the veyelet eX- tending inwardly not beyond the inner surface of said body.

2. A corset comprising a body havingreinforcing members along separated adjustable laced edges, spaced closed lacing eyelets provided with a wide base rigidly secured to the outer surface of each of said members within the corset body and projecting toward the other member with the axes of the eylets substantially parallel to the reinforcing members, said eyelets being lcated relatively to said members and corset body to extend outwardly of the inner surface of said body with the plane of lacing tension displaced outwardly from the plane of the reinforcing members, each eyelet comprising a plurality of adjacent coaxial pear shaped loops of wire having a substantial circular cross section with the smaller end of the loop adjacent the base and a substantial portion of the eyelet extending inwardly of the plane of the base not beyond the inner surface of said body.

3. In a lace and clasp type corset, the combination with a corset body portion, of a stay extending along a longitudinal edge of said body portion and permanently secured thereto, fastener members secured to said stay, a longitudinal connecting strip, a stay within said strip, complementary fastener members on said second mentioned stay for engagement with the fastener members on the first mentioned stay, eyelets secured along the edge of the second mentioned stay remote from the first stay and projecting from the edge of said second stay, a third stay extending along the other longitudinal edge of said body portion, eyelets correspondingly secured along the adjacent edge of said third stay, means engaging said eyelets for adjusting the fit of the corset, said stays terminating above the bottom of the corset and flexible tapes extending below sai-d stays and to which said fastener members and eyelets are secured.

Signed at New Yorlr city in the county of New York and State of New York this 11th day of October A. D. 1924.

KATHERINE E. CUNNINGHAM. 

